Author: David Shama

David Shama is a former sports editor and columnist with local publications. His writing and reporting experiences include covering the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Gophers. Shama’s career experiences also include sports marketing. He is the former Marketing Director of the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. He is also the former Marketing Director of the United States Tennis Association’s Northern Section. A native of Minneapolis, Shama has been part of the community his entire life. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he majored in journalism. He also has a Master’s degree in education from the University of St. Thomas. He was a member of the Governor’s NBA’s Task Force to help create interest in bringing pro basketball to town in the 1980s.

Worth Noting

Posted on December 19, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Within about 48 hours approximately 4,000 tickets were sold for TwinsFest last week, according to Patrick Klinger, Twins marketing VP. In addition, season ticket holders receive complimentary tickets and crowds could total over 30,000 for the three-day event at the Metrodome January 27-29.

Klinger said most of the players on the Twins roster, including Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, are expected at TwinsFest. In addition, former players are likely to include Rod Carew, Kent Hrbek and Tony Oliva. Among the attractions will be Bert Blyleven’s Hall of Fame plaque.

Tickets for adults and children under 14 are available at a discount if purchased in advance. Tickets are sold at the Twins Pro Shops, by telephone or via the team’s Website.

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill said yesterday on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle he’s optimistic senior cornerback Troy Stoudermire will be given a medical redshirt and allowed to play again next season.

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who threw five touchdown passes to help defeat the Vikings yesterday, was seen dining at McCormick & Schmick’s in Edina Saturday night.

Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler and former Gophers wide receiver Eric Decker, now with Denver, are among 26 NFL players selected by USA Football for its third annual USA Football All-Fundamentals Team. The team honors NFL players who exhibit exemplary techniques for youth players to emulate.

The Timberwolves will have a free scrimmage at Target Center open to the public starting at noon today.

The Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation, Minnesota Adoption Resource Network (MARN), and Minnesota Department of Human Services will host the seventh annual “Holiday Shopping for Kids” event late today at Seven Restaurant and the downtown Target store. Thirteen local foster children from MARN waiting for adoption have been invited.

Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson and his wife Landyn will host a holiday party tomorrow for young patients and their families (about 100 people) at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. The Hutchinsons purchased gifts for every young patient at the hospital. Players joining them will include Patrick Brown, Caleb King, Tyrone McKenzie, Sage Rosenfels, John Sullivan and Kerry Taylor.

Legendary former St. Louis Park High School athletes Jim Petersen and Bob Stein periodically schedule breakfasts with former Orioles assistant football coach Cliff Bombach, now 94.

Harvey Mackay, Minneapolis businessman and former Gophers golfer, said his new book, The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World, climbed in the first 10 days of sales to No. 1 among business books on the Wall Street Journal list and No. 2 on USA Today.

Comments Welcome

Get Excited about Wolves…(But Not Too Much Yet)

Posted on December 16, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

No time of year excites fans more than the eve of a favorite team taking the field or court. By definition, fans live on hope and those who follow losing teams spend off-seasons convincing themselves and others that fortunes will improve.

The Timberwolves were 6-2 in exhibition games last year and then compiled a regular season 17-65 record. Because of the NBA labor dispute and the strike-shortened season to come, the Wolves will play only two preseason games with the first coming tomorrow night at home against the Milwaukee Bucks. The following advice is offered:

Don’t make judgments about the Wolves based on the opening preseason game or the next game on December 21, also against the Bucks but in Milwaukee.

The time to start sending opinions via emails, tweets and Facebook is after the first 10 games of the regular season. By then the Wolves will have played seven home games, three on the road and seen four of the best teams in the NBA.

The Wolves will play six of their first seven games at home including against the NBA champion Mavericks and the team Dallas beat for the league title last June, Miami. Also coming to Minneapolis is NBA title wannabe Oklahoma City and a fading but still exceptional San Antonio team.

Ten games will be enough to make solid judgments about the Wolves but not long enough to regard those opinions as anything but flexible. For those who want to be optimists, though, there’s reason to be in good spirits about the team right now.

No offense to Flip Saunders, but new coach Rick Adelman may prove to be the franchise’s best coach ever. The man has taken 16 teams in 20 seasons to the playoffs, and twice to the NBA Finals. Sometimes he’s had to coach up teams lacking experience and talent.

If you pay any attention to the Wolves — a franchise that hasn’t been to the playoffs in seven years — you know that qualifies this man to coach the team. And yet it’s not that his roster isn’t intriguing and doesn’t tease us with promise.

Comments Welcome

Anticipation Begins with Ricky Rubio

Posted on December 16, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

The anticipation and mystery starts with 21-year-old Ricky Rubio. The rookie Spanish point guard could be an instant rock star here, early disappointment, or more likely both. Whatever the story, there will be excitement surrounding him perhaps matching or exceeding any rookie debut in franchise history.

Rubio is handsome, plays with flair and speaks broken English. His surprise passes could sometimes break a teammate’s nose. We can dream he’s another Pete Maravich while being prepared to settle for the second coming of Jason Williams.

While Rubio is maybe a rock star in waiting, this team has other age-26 and under personnel who could be a lot of fun to watch. Start with the NBA’s leading rebounder and All-Star forward, 21-year-old Kevin Love. This is a guy, by the way, who at least one local writer labeled mediocre during the preseason of Love’s rookie year. What did we tell you about preseason judgments?

In the Rubio mania, rookie forward Derrick Williams, 20, has received less attention than a No. 2 overall pick in the draft would expect. This kid is an explosive scorer and versatile player who will get a look by Adelman at both power and small forward. At Arizona his career field goal percentage was .586 percent (.511 on three point attempts). Word is his attitude is good, and how do you not like a guy that enjoys old-time TV including “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?”

Adelman said last week he wants to win now and that “potential” to win gets coaches fired. Wolves fans hope he coaches more production out of a talented trio who often show us both potential and disappointment. The threesome of forward Michael Beasley (22), center Darko Milicic (26) and guard Wes Johnson (24) can within moments both make fans stand and applaud, but also shake our heads with disapproval.

But, hey, that’s why Adelman and his staff have arrived on the scene. Their task is to make the league’s worst defensive team better, convince players to share the ball on offense, reduce turnovers and bust their tails every game. If that sounds like an ambitious to-do list, then you understand why early judgments are a no-no.

Ten games are a place to start with informed opinions. The 10 games after that will be even better. Best yet? At the end of the 66 game strike-shortened season.

2 comments